Toy



Fatented Nov. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES inverse PATENT oFr cE.

ALVIN nnonan'n ERICKSON, or WATERFALL, TERRITORY or ALASKA.

-App1ication filed August 15, 1922." Serial No. 581,987.

f. movement over the ground or like surface,

and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a toy of the character described which is formed to closely resemble in appearance a miniature aeroplane and which is adapted when propelled or drawn over a surface to move in a manner closely simulating the movements of an aeroplane when traveling on the ground.

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy of the character described which includes a steering apparatus constructed substantially in the similitude of the steering apparatus of an aeroplane.

A further object of my invention is'to provide a toy of the character described which is relatively simple in construction,of pleasing appearance, and particularly Well adapted to afford entertainment and amuse ment to children.

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent from the following description, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly outlined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a front view of the toy.

Figure 3 isan enlarged horizontal sectional view of a fragmentary portion ofthe device, illustrating the means provided for attaching a tail piece to the body of the device and for swinging the tail piece rela tively to the body to steer the device, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary Vertical seotional view, illustrating the manner of movably supporting the tail piece of the device.

In carrying out my invention in the form now preferred by me, I provide a body 1 which is of elongated tapered plate formation, being Wider at its forward end than at its rear end and being relatively thin, as shown. The body 1 may be formed of wood or any other suitable material and is supported adjacent to its forward end in-edgewise position by means of a suspension frame 2, a front axle 3 extending through and sup ported by vertical lower end portions %4 of a pair of arms comprised in the suspension frame, and wheels 5-5 rotatably mounted upon the axle 3 adjacent to the ends thereof, the upper end portions 6-6 of the suspension frame converging, from their points of juncture with the lower end portions 4-4.- to opposite sides of the body 1 and there being merged into attaching portions 7-7 which are clamped to opposite sides of the body 1 adjacent to the lower edge of the latter byfaste'ning devices, such as bolts 8 projected through the fastenimg portions and through the interposed body. .The wheels 5 may be held against any appreciable movement longitudinally of the axle 3 in any suitable manner as by means of washers 9 slipped over the ends of the axle which is then upset at its ends so that the washers are held adjacent to the outer" faces of the wheels which are prevented from moving inwardly on the axle by the vertical portions 4- of the suspension frame.

A horizontal plane 10 is secured to the upper edgeof the body 1 adjacent tothe for ward end of the latter so that a pair of wings extend laterally of the body equal distances in opposite directions. The wings of the plane are provided with transversely extending flanges or reinforcing strips 11- at the outer ends thereof to which inclined braces 1212 are attached at their outer ends. The braces 12-42 are formed integrally with the attaching portions of the suspension frame and extend in divergent relation from the upper ends of such attaching portions to the flanges 11-11 at the outer ends of the wings of the plane 10.

A propeller 13 is mounted upon the shank of a screw eye 14: which extends forwardly of the front end or nose portion of the body 1. i The screw eye 13 provides a means whereby a flexible draft element, such as a rope or the like (not shown) may be attached to the body.

A seat 15 is secured to the upper edge of the body 1 adjacent to the rear end of. the latter.

disposed between the lowerend portions of the hanger or suspension plates and thus held against any appreciable movement longitudinally of the axle 18.

The front edge portion of the tail piece 16' and the rear edge portion of the body 1 have complementary hinge sections 21 and 22, respectively, secured thereto, as by means of bolts 23 and these complementary hinge sections are connected together by means of a vertical pintle 24 which is rigidly secured to the hinge section 21 by means of a transverse pin 25, whereby the tail piece and the pintle rotate as a unit about a vertical axis. The pintle -24 has a laterally extending knuckle 26 at its lower end and a "connecting rod 27 is pivotally attached at one end'to the knuckle 26 adjacent to the outer end of the latter. The connecting rod 27 is pivotally attached adjacent to its other end to the lower end of an operating or steering lever 28 which is pivotally supported intermediate of its length upon the body 1, as at 29, in advance of the seat 15 and for movement about a horizontal axis.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. The lever 28 is so positioned in relation to the seat that the upper end thereof may be conveniently grasped and manipulated by a child seated upon the seat 15. hen the upper end of the lever 28 is moved forwardly of a neutral position the tail piece, which serves as a rudder, will be swung laterally in one direction to efiect a turning movement of the device in one direction. Moving the upper portion of the lever 28 rearwardly of the neutral position willoccasion a turning movement-of the device in a direction opposite that in which the device will move when the upper end of the lever has been moved forwardly. A child seated upon the seat 15 may propel the device by a kicking or pushing movement of his feet while a rope or the like may be attached to thes'crew eye 14 when it is desired to draw or tow the device. The propeller 13 is of course a dummy propeller, and does not aid in effecting propulsion of the device.

The lower edge of the body 1 is symmetrically curved and the upper portion of the tail piece 16 extends above the plane of the adjacent portion of the body, thereby aiding in conveying an impression of similitude to a miniature aeroplane.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms differing in details from that illustrated in the accompanying drawings and I therefore consider as my own all modifications and adaptations of the form of the device disclosed herein which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy vehicle comprising a longitudinal body, a pair of wheels movably supporting the body adjacent to the forward end of the latter, a tail piece, a wheel movably supporting the tail piece, complementary hinge sections secured to the adjacent ends of the body and the tail piece, a vertical pintle connecting the hinge sections and being secured to the hinge section secured to the tail piece, said pintle being provided at one end with a laterally extending knuckle, a lever pivotally supported intermediately upon the body for movement about a horizontal axis, and a connecting rod extending between the lower end of the lever and the outer end of the knuckle.

2. A toy vehicle comprising a longitudinal body, a pair of wheels movably supporting the body adjacent to the forward end of the latter, a tail piece, a wheel movably supporting the tail piece, complementary hinge sections secured to the adjacent ends of the body and the tail piece, a vertical pintle connecting the hinge sections and being secured to the hinge section secured to the tail piece, said pintle being provided at one end with a laterally extending knuckle, a lever pivotally supported intermediately upon the body for movement about a horizontal axis, a connecting rod extending between the lower end of the lever and the outer end of the knuckle, and a seat secured upon the body in position to permit convenient manipulation of said lever b an'operator seated thereon.

LVIN LEONARD ERICKSON. 

